Morenci city council 2012.07.25

Despite paying more for an increased number of performers and losing money on the rodeo, Morenci’s Town and Country Festival committee reported a net profit of $3,131 from this year’s event.

Co-chairs of the festival Dale Long and Bill Foster reported to city council members Monday on the economic side of the festival.

“We did a lot of new things this year and a lot of that paid off,” Foster said.

Six bands helped bring in visitors and new events such as the pedal tractor pull, a 5K run and the dodgeball tournament each netted a profit. A dog raffle brought in $550 after the winner, Fran Bell, donated it back to the festival.

The festival’s share from the Eagles’ beer tent brought in $1,415 and proceeds from the carnival rides and games netted $1,734 for the committee.

“Dale worked really hard on the food vendors and merchant vendors,” Foster said. “I think it was the most merchant vendors we’ve had in a really long time.”

Many events were backed by merchant donations, Foster said, to help keep costs down.

In addition, he said, there was ample fund-raising throughout the year and those efforts brought in $1,363 before the festival got underway.

The committee spent $2,400 for entertainment and the sound system. The rodeo finished short by $1,552, but Long said it always draws a large crowd and many of them are from out of town.

One large donation for the fireworks fund left the account with $55 to start on next year’s campaign.

“Overall things went well,” Foster said, “and we have several fresh ideas for next year.”

“That’s an excellent job,” Mayor Keith Pennington said about the committee’s job this year.

COMPUTERS—Council accepted a bid from IT Right—the company that currently works with the city—to buy two computers for $2,100. The purchase was made in anticipation of the new software the city will use.

JUNK CARS—Police chief Larry Weeks said the department mailed 21 notices to the owners of inoperable vehicles from late June and into July.

“We’ve gained compliance with every one but four,” he said. “I do appreciate their compliance without having to take more aggressive action to get those vehicles removed.”

K2—Chief Weeks said he followed the county health department’s order to speak with local business owners that could sell chemically engineered marijuana—also known as K2 and other names—and informed them that the substance is now illegal.

“We’ve had some issues with that in town,” he said. “We’ve had some people who have overdosed. It does impact our community.”

EMS—Weeks, who also serves as Morenci Area EMS coordinator, told council that Dan Sallows chose to step down from the position of station coordinator due to conflicts with his full-time job.

His assistant, Chad Corbin, will take over as supervisor.

FIRE CALLS—Fire chief Chad Schisler said the department has been extremely busy.

“We’re at 96 calls for the year and our average is 125 for the entire year,” he said.